After all those holidays, birthdays, engagement parties, baby showers, and other events, leftover wrapping paper can start to pile up in your home. But you don’t have to toss those scraps out!
They can be upcycled to create beautiful and useful things in your home.
Here are 16 of our favorite ways to reuse wrapping paper.
Paper Mobile
This whimsical paper mobile is perfect for a child’s room or in any butterfly lover’s room. You can make different animals or whatever shapes you want.
Present Bows
You can use wrapping paper to wrap and decorate your gifts.
Wall Art
Cut out shapes, like this cool hexagon design, from different pieces of wrapping paper and glue them to a canvas or poster board that you can frame to create a beautiful piece of wall art.
This tutorial uses heavyweight paper but you can Mod Podge your wrapping paper to cardboard pieces before cutting out your shapes if you’d like your paper to be sturdier. Mod Podging the wrapping paper on its own should make it a bit stiffer.
New Tabletop
Give your table a brand new look by decoupaging it with some wrapping paper. You can even add a glass piece to the top of it to help it last.
Magazine/Mail Holder
Keep your magazines tidy in one place by Mod Podging wrapping paper to a magazine holder. You can also construct the holder from scratch with a cereal box. Add some chalkboard paint to mark what’s in your box.
Fancy Light Switches
Gussy up your light switches by covering them in wallpaper. Add you need some Mod Podge and a razor.
Customized Party Plates
Add a special touch to your next party by making these beautiful party plates.
Mason Jars
Spruce up your mason jars and use them for storage by gluing pieces of wrapping paper to them.
Lamp Makeover
Use can use the same process to jazz up a lamp.
Packing Material
Toss some wrapping paper in your paper shredder and use it as packaging material.
Draw Liners
Protect your drawers by making liners out of wrapping paper.
Beautify a Bookshelf
Give your boring bookshelf new life by adding a pop of color with some wallpaper.
Placemats
Learn how to make festive placemats out of old wrapping paper.
Cover a Book
Use wrapping paper to cover a textbook or notebook.
Tray Liner
Use wrapping paper to line a serving tray at your next party. Just cut your paper to fit the tray.
Origami Heart Envelope
You can make this adorable origami envelope with some wrapping paper.
Bonus. What about Dryer Sheets?
Fight Hair Flyaways
Tired of those flyaways in your hair. Rub a dryer sheet over your brush. This will fight the static in your hair and fight flyaways.
Keep A Thread From Knotting
Having your thread constantly knot while you’re sewing can be frustrating. Rub your string through a dryer sheet. It will leave a coating on your string to prevent it from knotting.
Get Rid of Static Cling
Don’t leave the house with your clothing clinging to you. Rub a dryer sheet on that clothing, especially the underside. This will keep it from sticking to you.
Get Rid Of Deodorant Stains
Deodorant stains can ruin a perfectly good outfit. Take a dryer sheet and use brisk, short strokes to rub the stain away. It should disappear in sections.
Keep Shoes From Smelling
Are your shoes stinking? Fill your shoes with some dryer sheets. Let them sit overnight and they will be stink-free in the morning.
Dust Your Blinds
Use a dryer sheet to dust your blinds. The dust will come right off. The static cling helps attract the dust.
Air Freshener
Use a dryer sheet to freshen up your room and make it smell good. Clip or tape one to your fan. The wind will distribute the scent around your room.
Revive An Old Book
Books can get a stale smell over time. Stick some dryer sheets in between the pages. They will help to revive your book.
Wipe Bugs Off Your Windshield
Bugs can be a little difficult to get off your car once they’re all dried up on there. Use dryer sheets. They’ll slide right off and will be gentle enough so they won’t ruin your car’s window or paint job.
Wipe Up Dry Spills
Use a dryer sheet to wipe up powder or other dry ingredients. The static cling will suck up the dry spilled stuff. It offers a quick clean up.
Polish Hardware
Are your bathroom faucets and knobs looking dull? Rub them down with some dryer sheets. It will restore their shine.
Clean Dirty Dishes
Fill your pot or pan with warm water and dish soap. Toss in a dryer sheet and let it sit for an hour. You won’t have to scrub when it’s done. Just rinse off.
Shine Stainless Steel
Your stainless steel appliances can be shined right up with some dryer sheets. The crossed fibers will be clean without scratching the surface. It will shine like new.
Keep Clothes And Drawers Fresh
Keep your clothes smelling good long after they’ve left the dryer. Place dryer sheets in your drawers. It will keep your clothes smelling great. You can also put them in your luggage.
Freshen While You Vaccum
Sometimes our vacuums can accumulate funky smells. Toss half a dryer sheet in your vacuum bag or canister. It gives you an extra boost of cleanliness.